Battle of Leyte Gulf: The Largest Sea Battle of the Second World War

The US Sixth Army began landing on Leyte's eastern coast on October 20, 1944, supported by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th fleets, which were assisted by ships from the Royal Australian Navy. The Japanese were aware of the Americans' plan to attack the Philippines and planned to draw the American warships into one last great battle to try and stave off the otherwise inevitable defeat. The battle was the greatest naval encounter of the Second World War and possibly the largest naval battle in history, resulting in the loss of three battleships, four aircraft carriers, ten cruisers, and eleven destroyers, along with almost 300 aircraft, for the Japanese.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 30 March 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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By early 1944, the United States armed forces had successfully driven the Japanese forces from numerous conquests in the south and central Pacific. Following this strategic victory, the American military took a decisive action to cripple Tokyo's communication with the remaining Japanese garrisons and disrupt the supply of vital raw materials essential to Japan's war effort. To achieve this objective, it was deemed necessary to eliminate the land-based air forces in the Philippines, which were considered too formidable to bypass. The American plan was to land on the eastern Philippine island of Leyte and subsequently launch a major assault against the island of Mindoro. Once established on Leyte, the US forces would then proceed to launch their main offensive against Luzon and the Philippine capital, Manila. On October 20, 1944, the US Sixth Army commenced its landing on Leyte's eastern coast, backed by the formidable US Navy's 3rd and 7th fleets, along with support from ships from the Royal Australian Navy. The Japanese were well aware of the impending American attack on the Philippines and formulated a strategic plan to engage the American warships in a final, epic battle to prevent the inevitable defeat. Over the course of the following three days, the two naval forces engaged in four separate engagements, involving a staggering total of over 360 ships and 200,000 naval personnel. This battle, known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf, stands as the largest naval encounter of the Second World War and is considered one of the largest naval battles in history. The outcome of this historic conflict was catastrophic for the Japanese, as they suffered significant losses. Three battleships, four aircraft carriers, ten cruisers, and eleven destroyers were sunk, along with nearly 300 aircraft. This marked the greatest loss of ships and crew the Japanese had ever experienced. The actions of the warships, as well as the accompanying amphibious landings on Leyte by the US Sixth Army, are vividly depicted in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The bravery and skill of the naval personnel, combined with the coordinated efforts of the ground troops, played a pivotal role in securing the Philippines and paving the way for the eventual Allied victory in World War II.

\n Weight: 568g\n
Dimension: 375 x 245 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526770394\n \n